2025 Politics and Society Network

This introductory session will set out the biblical case for political and social engagement. We will explore some of the key elements of what it looks like to engage well and gain practical tools from group exercises.

Following Jesus has arguably never been more confusing than in this cultural moment. With the faith of many falling by the wayside and the challenges mounting for those pursuing a distinctively Christian vision in the public square, what might we learn from our Saviour’s journey with two disenchanted disciples en route to Emmaus? This session will build on a biblical case for political and social engagement, forming a process of reflective action (learning to listen, imagine, create, and communicate). It will help us each contextualise what we’re discussing and construct our own public theology appropriate to being wise peacemakers who faithfully represent Christ and fruitfully seek first His kingdom in our particular time and place as whole-life disciples.

This session will offer an overview of the ‘strange new world of gender’, its key ideas and its impact on society. We will look at the roots of ‘gender identity’ theory, the idea that sex is ‘assigned at birth’, the rise in the number of people identifying as trans or non-binary, the contested nature of medical care for gender-questioning patients, and political struggles over ‘trans rights’. We will consider several key biblical themes which form the ‘Bible’s better story’ with respect to our physical bodies, sex, gender, and identity.

In this session, more time will be given over to group discussion, as we consider the aims, opportunities, obstacles, and practicalities when seeking to contribute a Christian perspective on these issues in the ‘public square’.

In this session, we examine six key passages on cultural engagement in a context where a theology of engagement is lacking and where some have defined the Cultural War in ways that are not as biblical as it should be. These texts emphasize the spiritual dimensions of the battle, not forgetting how God came to us, the importance of tone, the indispensability of the Gospel as hope, the challenge-invitation nature of the Gospel, and a call to be faithful, leaving heart change to God.

Each member of the panel will briefly share their own story and how their evangelical faith has made an impact in their context. Drawing out what they see as the key lesson they have learnt and what positive gospel impact looks like, participants will be challenged about what practical tips and principles will look like in their lives. There will be an extended time of question and answer.

For more than a millennium Christianity, at least in its cultural form, was the foundation of the Western world and provided the context for the local church as well as for the individual Christian. All that has now changed. As followers of Christ, we find ourselves being a minority within an increasingly hostile environment and with culture wars being fought on all sides. How should that new situation, a pluralistic culture with a secular majority, affect our perspectives and our priorities as Christians who still want to be involved in society?

There is no area in the realm of politics and society into which our Christian faith does not speak. Across this Network, participants have grappled with considerable issues of our day and sought to understand how we, as Christians, can best stand for the Lord and help His Church shine as a light for hope and truth. This session will bring together the key points that have emerged across the four days with some curated time that will help embed key learnings at an individual and group level. It will be the start of planning what each person can do as they go back to their network and what support and resources will help them realise their aims.